Antares Industries is a private nuclear energy technology company specializing in the development of advanced, transportable microreactors designed for strategic energy applications on Earth, in space, and underwater. The company’s mission is to provide abundant, resilient energy from Earth to the asteroid belt, focusing on supporting critical infrastructure, defense, and future space missions. Antares’ flagship product, the R1 microreactor, is engineered to deliver reliable, autonomous power in remote, austere, or contested environments, enabling energy independence for military, aerospace, and industrial clients.
Leadership
Jordan Bramble, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Professional background includes roles at Local Kitchens, Atrium, the White House, Cava Group, Opower, George Mason University, and Northrop Grumman.
Bramble brings experience in both government and private sector innovation, with a focus on energy, technology, and operational leadership.
Julia DeWahl, Co-Founder & President
Background information available via LinkedIn; expertise in scaling technology ventures and operational execution.
Core Technologies
R1 Microreactor: Kilowatt-scale special purpose fission reactor designed for rapid deployment and autonomous operation, providing 215 kWe for 3–5 years without refueling.
Integrated Shielding & Transport Cradle: Uses tungsten and boron carbide (B4C) for maintenance-friendly shielding and a cradle for simplified deployment.
Reactivity Controls: Employs graphite and boron carbide control drums with independent actuators, inspired by historic space reactor designs.
Core: Utilizes TRISO-coated particle fuel within a prismatic graphite core for enhanced safety and performance.
Primary Heat Exchanger: Fin-and-tube design for efficient thermal management.
Nitrogen Brayton Cycle: Closed, recuperated N2 Brayton cycle for efficient, low-maintenance power conversion at less than 300 psi.
Power Management & Distribution: Flexible node for conditioning electricity and connecting to microgrids.
Engineering Capabilities:
Vertically integrated supply chain for reactor manufacturing.
Expertise in high-temperature heat pipes, radiators, automated control systems (including hardware-in-the-loop digital twins), and precision machining of nuclear-grade graphite.
Key Capabilities
Rapid Deployment: R1 reactor is designed to be transported on standard trucks, easily set up, and quickly operational.
Resilience & Autonomy: Provides continuous power for up to three years without refueling, suitable for mission-critical facilities, remote sites, and space missions.
Scalability: Modular and adaptable for terrestrial, underwater, and space-based applications.
Defense & Aerospace Focus: Tailored for Department of Defense needs and future space infrastructure, with applications in extractive industries and edge computing.
Investors
Total Funding: Over $38 million raised to date.
Seed Round: $8 million.
Series A: $30 million (October 2024), led by Caffeinated Capital and AltCap, with participation from Rogue, Uncommon Capital, Shrug, Banter Capital, Box Group, and Shine Capital.
Government Contracts: $4.3 million in funding from the Department of Defense and Department of Energy.
Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Company Type: Private.
Notable Clients
U.S. Department of Defense: Primary early customer, with contracts supporting development and demonstration of microreactor technology for defense and critical infrastructure.
Commercial Partners: Collaborations with extractive industries, edge computing providers, and space power stakeholders.
National Laboratories: Partnerships with Idaho National Laboratory, DOE’s National Reactor Innovation Center, Sandia National Laboratories, Savannah River National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory for R&D and independent verification.
